Fire arm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. SUPER. BRBEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

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Patented Jan. 10,1882.`

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Jan. 10,188 2..

W. SUPER. BREEGH LoAnlN-QVPIRE ARM.

(No Model.)

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'block'of my improved [ire-arm.

VUNITED STATES lPATENT Orrin.

WILLIAM SOPER, OF READING, ENGLAND.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,271, dated January 10, 1862.

Application tiled September 27, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England August 29, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I,WILLIIAM SOPER, of Reading,England, gun-inanul`acturer,havein vented new and useful Improvements in Breach-Loading and other Fire-Arms, (for which I have obtained apatentin Great Britain, No. 3.480, bearing date August 29,1879,)of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in lire-arms, and comprises a peculiar combination of parts, whereby the opening of the breech, the cocking of the piece, and the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell are si' mnltaneously eiected by one movement of the hand upon an arm or lever at the side of the gun without materially changing the position in which the same is held when being fired.

1n the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section on the line x ar, Fig. 6, of the breech mechanism of a tire-arm constructed according to the Ifirst part of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views of the said breech mechanism on the lines rr and .r2 :r2 on the same figure; and Fig. 4 is an under side view of a portion of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view of the breech of the said lire-arm. Figs. 6 and 6 are transverse sections of the said breech mechanisni on the lirios y y y y', Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the breech-shoe on the line y2 y2, Fig. 1, showing the rear face of the aperture in which the breech-block slides; and Fig. Sis a transverse section of the said breechshoe on the line y3 1/3, Fig. 1, looking toward the front end of the gun. Fig. 9 is a front Fig. l0 Vis a rear or back view, and Fig. 11, a longitudinal section of the. breech- Fig. 12 is a rear View ofthe breech tumbler detached, and Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of the said breech-tumbler. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, showing slight modifications in the construction of the breech nicchanism of my improved fire arm; and Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the said breech mechanism on the line z e, Fig. 6, showing the said modifications; and Fig. 16 is a side view of a portion of the same detached.

Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

a represents the barrel; b, the stock; c, the bleechshoe; d, the breech-block; e, the trigger-plate;f, the cock or hammer; g, the mainspring; h, the main trigger; z', the striker or firing-pin; j, the extractor; k, the breech-tuinbler, and Z the operating-lever. The remaining parts are hereinafter described.

The invention is more especially designed with the view to secure the advantages ofthe aforesaid simultaneous operations more conveniently and with a smaller cost than is practicable with the mechanism I have heretofore employed for the purpose.

My invention is carried into practice as follows-that is to say The mechanism is chiefly inclosed within the metal breech block or shoe c, which extends downward at the rear of the barrel a. The breech-block d slides vertically within this shoe, and is in its highest position when the piece is ready to be tired, the said breech-block being caused to descend when the exploded cartridgeshell has to be removed and a fresh one inserted. I arrange the said breech-block d to slide in such a manner that its upper surface, d', will projectabove the level surface of the breech=shoe c, so as to prevent the escape of gas in a rearward direction from a defective cartridge.

According to one form of my saidimprovements a slot or groove, d2, is formed in each side ofthe breech-block, near the lower end of the same, the said grooves being cut at right angles to the line of motion of the saidbreechblock. Each of the said grooves is adapted to receive a stud or pin, k', on the end of an arm, k2, of the tumbler 7c. By reason `of this arrangement of the said grooves in relation to the arms la2 the said arms k2 will depress or elevate the breech-block d by direct pressure, when the aforesaid lever I, in connection with the tumbler 7c, is depressed or raised. The said breech-tumbler 7c is constructed and arranged as followsthat is to say: The two arms k2 are connected at their lower end by a tubular transverse part, 7c3, whichl is formed solidly or in one piece with them, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and keyed or otherwise secured upon the spindle l in such a manner that the arms k2 participate in any motion imparted to the latter. The said spindle Z extends through the breech-shoe c at right angles to the axis ofthe barrel. One of its ends outside the said shoe carries the operating-lever l, which is formed on er attached to the IOO said spindle, and extends rearward to a convenient position to be raised and depressed by the hand of the person using the tire-arm'. The spindle l may be square and fitted to a square hole in the tumbler le, or I may form on the said spindle two wings or projections, which fit into a corresponding slot provided l for the purpose in the tumbler, or the latter maybe secured to the spindle in any other suitable manner. I prefer, however, to form a flat or elongated hole in the part k3 of the said tumbler, and to form that part of the spindle which passes through the same of corresponding shape, as shown in the drawings, and I secure the said spindle in the tumbler cvby a set-screw, kit, which by a half-turn will release the spindle and allow it to be withdrawn from the said tumbler. The portions o'f the saidspindle which extend through the breech-shoe are so fitted in the same as to permit its being freely turned by the main or operating lever l. A short arm, h4, also for-ming part of the breech-tumbler, extends downward from the part k3, andcarries a stud or pin, It?, which enters a slot, m', in a connect? ing-rod, m, whose other end is attached to the cock or hammerfin such a manner that when the tumbler k is operated to depress the breechblock the said cock or hammer will be drawn back. The slot m Ain the connecting-rod m is provided in order thatwhen the-cock has been drawn back to 'full or-halt'cock the breechblock d may be returned to its upper position behind the breech without operating the said,y

cock.

body of the latter a Suitablyshaped recess to receive the endl of the said connectingrodl link or swivel, in a somewhat similar mannen to that usually employed in cocks or tumblersi -for the fixing of an ordinary swivel, and ony the end ofthe said connecting-rod [form suitble pins, horns, or projections, m2, to tit in the said recess.

block d has been depressed tothe required distance the said spur will come in contact with'` the cartridge-extractorj, and impart to the latter the necessary movement to draw out the;

cartridge.

I provide at the lower end ofthe cartridge` extractor j a short arm lor projertiomj', with the'breech mechanism. In Fig. l l have shown the connecting-rod m attached to the cock f by forming in the,

moved toward the barrel when the said breechblock commences to rise. The said extractor is, moreover,'formed withY an inclined portion, jz, with which the inclined surface on the upper part of the breech-block will en gage when the latter is raised, so that the said extractor, if not-carried back to its -normal position by the action of the recess d5 on its endj, will be fully returned to its normal position by the said intra spring.

As the aforesaid connecting-rod m extends through the lower part of the space within which the breech-block slides, I provide for the free movement of the said breech-block by forming an aperture, d4, in the lower part of the latter, so that the said connecting-rod will not obstruct or interfere with its movement.

v The cock or hammerf, which strikes the tiring-pint to explode the cartridge in my improved tire-arm, is constructed as follows-that is to say: rPhe striking-arm f of the cock is preferably of rectangular form in transverse section, and from its, striking-face is carried backward and downward in a curved form, as shown, so as to permit it to pass freely through a slot provided for the purpose in the tail of the breech-shoe c. The said curved part may be fitted so closely within the said slot as to prevent the entrance otdirt or foreign matter to the lock. Near the striking-face of the said cock a comb or projection, f2,is provided thereon to permit the operator toadjust the cock without affecting or changing the positionv of The other end of the cock is so arranged that the ordinary V-shaped mainspring g and the swivel a `may be used in connection therewith. It is provided with notches or with a notched tumbler, 0forrned in one piece with or separately from the said cock g and an important feature of this part of my invention is the placing of the said tumbler at one side or out ot' the plane of the cock, or hammer for the purpose of permitting the cock l i to strike the tiring-pin exactly inline with the Upon the aforesaid tubular part k3 of the' breech-tumblerlc, Iprovide aspur or projection,

k6, which is so arranged that when the breechf axis of the barrel. I prefer to form the nose or striking part of the saidcock with a projection,f*', which, when the piece is tired, enters a recess, di, formed in the breech-block below the nipple, as shown in Fig. l, in such aimanner as to effectually prevent the said breechblock from Vbeing forced downward by the escape of gas from a defective cartridge, or otherwise. The arrangement of the said projection for holding the cock below the nipple permits the cutting away ofthe upper part ofthe breechblock at d, and the arm is thereby conveniently adapted for the use ofan ordinary-snapcap for the purpose o'finstruction or drill. The trigger h, forming part of my improved breech mechanism, is of the peculiar form shown.

ln order to prevent the accidental displacement or falling of the breech-block, I in some cases fix a springupon the breech-shoe c to act upon the said breech-block or upon the tumbler '10; or a spring maybe arranged in conclined surfaces without the assistance of an ex- IOO IC-S

IIO

nection with the outside or main lever, l,.to prevent the falling of the said breech-block unless a considerable pressure should be` applied to the said main lever. d5 represents a slot, which is formed in each side of the breechblock, and into which pins or studs on the breech-shoe are arranged to enter and act as stops to limitthe movements of the said breechblock.

In Figs. 14, 15, and 16 I have shown other convenient means for retaining the breechblock'in position for firing and preventing the accidental misplacementof the same. For this purpose I employ a lever or latch, p, mounted on a pimp', within the breech-shoe c, at the Vlower rear portion thereof, as shown. "The up- Y' per portion, p2, of this lever is arranged to project through the rear surface ot the aperture or space in which the breech-block d slides, so that when the said block is in position for the rin g of the piece the top of the said lever can be pressed forward underneath the block and into a recess 4in the same, as shown in Fig. 15, so that when in this position it will entirely prevent the descent of the block.

The upper end of the lever or latch p isV caused to fall forward to hold the breech-block, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, by means of the pivoted breech-trigger q, which is acted on by a spring, q', to cause the forward toe, g2, of said trigger to exert au upward pressure on the rearward-projecting toe g3 at the lower part ofthe lever or latch p. In order to disengage the lever p from engagement with the breech-block, the breech-trigger is pressed upward toward the stock b, when the upper end of the lever p will be caused to fall rearwardly from the breech-block, either by means of a light spring, (not necessary to show,) which acts to normally throw the upper end of the said lever rearwardly, or else b v connecting the toe g2 of the breech-block to the toe g3 on the lever.

Instead of forming the rod m with a slot, m', as hereinbefore described, I may modify the same by forming it with a hook or a projectlon, the surface of which will be nearly at right angles to the said rod, the said projection being arranged to work in the slot of the tumbler, and be held in its position in the same by a pin or screw.

In Figs. 14, 15, and 16 I have shown the sliding bar or connecting-rod m provided with projectionsm2 at both ends, the inner surface of the said projections being at right angles, or nearly so, to the said rod. The object of this arrangement is to prevent the oscillation of the connecting rod.

I also in some cases modify the construction ofthe breech-tumblercby cuttingaslot through the breech-block d and passing a pin or screw through the arms ofthe tumbler and the said slot; or I may fix pins in the breech-block and provide the arms of the tumbler with suitable grooves or slots, within which the said pins will work.

It will be obvious from the above description that by means of the outside lever, I, which is connected with the parts as above described, and which has a tla-ttened and roughened part, Z2, at its free end, the breech-block d, the extractor j, and the cock or hammer f may be all conveniently and simultaneously vertically-slidable breech-block d, ot' the lever l, arranged at the side of the gun, the tumbler 7c, iitted upon the spindle ofthe said lever and engaging the slidable breech-block, the movable rod connecting the tumbler with the cock, and the extractor j, acted upon by the said tumbler, whereby the opening of the breech, the cocking ofthe gun, and the extraction of the cartridge-shell will all be effected simultaneously by one downward movement of the lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the lever l, located at one .side of the gun and provided with the transverse spindle l', the tumbler k, secured to said spindle, the cock f, having the frontprojection, ft, a link-connection between the tumbler and cock, and a vertically-sliding breechblock, d, constructed with the recess di", said members being constructed and arranged for operation substantially as described.

3. The combination ofthe tumbler 7c, mounted on the axis or spindle l', and having the horns or projections k2, the vertically-sliding breech-block d, having the grooves d2 in its sides, which engage the horns or projections of the tumbler for depressing the breech-block by the direct downward pressure ot said horns or projections, and a cock or hammer connected by a rod with the said tumbler, said members being arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the cock, the extractor, and the vertically-slidable breechblock, of the breech-tumbler 7c, fitted upon the spindle ofthe operating-lever, and formed with the studs k 7c or projections upon the arms k2 k2, the tubular transverse part 7c3, the arm k, and a rod connecting the cock with the said breech-tumbler, for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the vertically-sliding breech-block, ofthe upright lever or latch p, pivoted at its lower end, and provided with a rearward-projecting toe, g3, and the pivoted breech-trigger q, having a toe, q2, and acted on by a spring, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM SOPER. Witnesses:

LEWIS SANDERsoN, BOWLAND GEo. BROWN.

l. The combinatiomiirahre-arm having the IOO 

